Drapery heading



June 3, 1952 J, BERNHARD 2,599,429

DRAPERY HEADING Filed OCT.. l5, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEET l l 2m j l IN V ENTOR.

@nm/d 7' 7' GENE Y Wfl J. BERNHARD DRAPERY HEADING June 3, 1952 2SHEETS--SHEET 2 gg Filed OCT.. 13. 1950 f bi 2 l M Mu| iw zal sgi ne fJ/6 lll am/ iff Patented June 3, 1952 f 7'1" Y i ADEMI-ERE HEADINGJoseph Bernhard, Stepney, Conn., assignor to Consolidated TrimmingCorporation,

New

lYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 13, 1950,Serial No. 189,920

6 Claims.

This application relates to heading supports and particularly to animproved support for curtains, draperies and the like whereby they maybe properly held in position.

Broadly, the invention relates to a heading support having a suspensionhook comprising a main hook portion with means on the shank of the mainhook extending laterally on both sides of the shank and having fabricengaging means on each end of the extension. The hook is preferablyfabricated from a piece of wire and the means on the shank isrectangular in shape with the vertical sides of the rectangular portioncurving inwardly toward the shank to form a U conguration on each sideof the shank. v More narrowly, the invention relates to a headingsupport having in combination a tape adapted to be fastened to a draperyand a suspension hook member adapted to engage the tape., The tape isprovided with a plurality of vertical straps aligned in a horizontal rowso that when the hook member is in suspending engagement with the tapesuch member is positioned so that its main hook portion is in a planenormal to that of the tape and the laterally extending means in theplane of the tape. Also when in such position, the laterally extendingmeans pass behind at least one strap on each side of the main hook shankwith the strap engaging means, or U-shaped members on each of the`vertical sides of the rectangular shaped extension, engage the outersurface of the outermost straps behind which the rectangular shapedextension passes on both sides of the main hook shank.

Preferably the tape has a plurality of vertical slits aligned in ahorizontal row, such slits cooperating to form a plurality ofhorizontally spaced straps arranged in a plurality of horizontallyspaced groups so as to form four straps in each group. The tape is alsoprovided With a second row of vertical slits horizontally spaced in ahorizontal row, above and parallel to the first row of slits. The secondrow of slits is arranged in a plurality of horizontally spaced groupscorresponding to and in vertical alignment with the spaced group ofstraps. Each group of slits cooperates with its respective group ofstraps to form pleats in the tape at the position occupied bycooperating groups of slits and straps upon engagement of the straps ina group of straps with the hook member. Preferably each of the group ofslits in the second row contains seven slits and pref- 2 erably threepleats are formed in a group of pleats.

An object of the invention is to provide a heading support which may bereadily applied to curtains, draperies and the like and which willfunction to hold the curtains in proper position. Another object of theinvention is to provide a heading support which is simple to constructand which may be fabricated at low cost.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations o-f the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersrepresent like parts:

Figure 1 is a view of a drapery employing the invention as seen by theviewer when the drapery is in place.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the back of the drapery of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a tape backing for the drapery of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows the tape backing of Figure 3 as just applied to thedrapery.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thesuspension hook.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 2 showingthe manner of assembling the heading support.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a drapery I as it appears to aviewer when the drapery is in place. Such viewer will see groups ofpleats 2, 3, Il and 5 and three lines of stitching 6, 1 and 8. Thenumber of groups of pleats, of course, will depend upon the width of thedrapery and the span between the groups.

From the back of the drapery of Figure 1 thereis seen, as shown inFigure 2, the drapery I, tape 9 and a plurality of hooks IIl. The hooksI0 are adapted to engage a rod or similar device for hanging the draperyI which, for clarity of illustration, is not shown.

Figure 3 shows the tape 9 as it appears before it is attached to thedrapery I. Such .tape is of suitable width and varying in lengthdepending upon the width of the drapery to which it is to be attached.The tape may be composed of any suitably stiiened material such as.buckram The fabric in the Vtape may be cotton or canvas cloth or thelike stiffened with a natural or synthetic sizing material and ifdesired it may even be composed of properly flexible plastic sheetingmaterial.

Arranged in a horizontal row are a plurality of slits cut into the tapeso as to form a plurality of groups of straps containing four straps ineach group .of straps as is illustrated in Figure 3. Slits II form agroup of four straps I2, I3, I4 and I5 and slits I6 cooperate to form asecond group of straps I1, I8, I9 and 20. The number of groups of strapsthus formed will depend upon the width of the drapery on which the tape9 is applied as well as the spacing of the straps and groups of straps.

The tape is also provided with a second row of vertical slitshorizontally spaced in a horizontal row above and parallel to the row ofslits comprised by slits II and I6. The second row of slits is arrangedin a plurality of horizontally spaced groups of slits corresponding toand vertically aligned with the spaced group of straps. As shown in.Figure 3, each group of slits in the second row contains .sevenslitswhich are capable of cooperating with their .respective groups of strapsto form three pleats in the tape .when the tape is lattached to thedrapery and the drapery is hung. Thus slits 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and21 are capable of cooperating with straps I2, I3, I4 and I5respectively, to form three pleats. Likewise, slits 28, 29, 30, l3l, 32,33 and 34 are capable of cooperating with straps I1, I8, I9 and 20 toform .three pleats.

It will be noted that with any two straps in a group of straps there areassociated three slits l in the row of slits above the row of straps.Thus, for example, straps I2 and I3 are associated with slits 2I, 322and Z3. Likewise, straps I3 and I4 are associated with straps 23, 24 and25, and so To form a pleat having the best appearance it is desirablethat the first and last slit in a group of slits, in the second row ofslits, be vertically aligned with the inner slit cooperating to make upthe innermost and outermost strap in the row of straps. Thus, forexample, slit 2I is in vertical alignment with the inner slit of strapI2 in the group in which strap I2 comprises one of the straps. Likewise,slit 21 is in vertical alignment with the inner slit comprising strap I5in the group of straps of which strap I5 is a part.

Tape 9 preferably is marked with three lines 35,136 and 31 whichindicate the line of stitching along which the tape may be sewn to thedrapery. Such lines may be suitably marked on the tape, by the use of anindelible ink for example. Stitching when applied to lines 36 and 31reinforces the straps I2I5 and I1-29. Likewise, a line of stitchingalong line 35 serves to reinforce the upper extremities of slits 2 I-21and 2li-94. However, any number of lines of stitching may be indicatedon the tape and stitching vmay -be applied to all of them; of course, noline of stitching should be used between lines 36 and 31 unless it isdesired to shorten the straps I2--I 5 and I1--20.

The tape 9 may be attached to the drapery I as shown in Figure 4. Toattach the tape as shown-in Figure 4 the drapery is laid at on a flatsurface. 'The top edge of the drapery 38 may be folded back over itself`so that when the tape is applied the edge 38 will be below the line ofstitching 6. The tape 9 is then laid flat onthe drapery asuitabledistance below the fold-line39 in the-top of `the drapery, yafter whichlines of stitching 6, 1 and 8 may be made, thereby binding together thedrapery Il and the tape 9. Instead of attaching the tape 9 to thedrapery I by means of the lines of stitching, any other suitable methodfor attachment may be used, such as, for example, the side of the tape 9facing the drapery may contain a suitable composition which will causethe drapery and the tape to adhere and stick to each other upon theapplication of heat and/or pressure.

The hook I0 which is adapted to be attached to the tape 9 is shown indetail in Figure 5. It comprises a main hook portion 40 having a shankportion 4I to which is attached a rectangular member 42 extendinglaterally on both sides of the shank 4 I. The vertical sides of therectangular member 42 Vare bent to form U-shaped configurations or tabsor ngers or the like 43 and 44 therein with the base of each U curvinginwardly toward the shank 4I. The hook II) may be of unitaryconstruction and fabricated from metallic wire. Any suitable materialmay be used. Likewise, the main hook portion 40 instead of forming twowire prongs may be a single element and the rectangular member 42 may beseparate element suitably attached to the shank As shown in Figure 5,the rectangular member 42 including the U-shaped members 43 and 44 alllie in the same plane. Instead of this arrangement the U-shaped membersmay be of the turned-over type with their base U portions lying in aplane parallel to the rest of the rectangular member and between theshank 4I and a tip 45 of the main hook portion 4D. The lateral extensionon either side of the shank 4I instead of being in the form of therectangular member 42 may terminate adjacent the base of each .U- shapedmember 43 and 44, for example at points 46 and 41, thus making thelateral extensions on either side of the shank a J-form in shape. Forbest results however, the suspension hook I 0 is in the form illustratedin Figure 5.

After attaching the tape 9 to the drapery I as shown in Figure 4, thesuspension hooks ID are attached to the tape in the manner shown inFigure 6. The rectangular portion 42 of the hook I0 may be inserted sothat the right-hand extension (as viewed in this figure) from the shank4I passes under straps I4 and I5 and so that U- shaped member 44 engagesthe outside surface of the strap I5. In like manner the rest of therectangular member extending on the left side of the shank 4I isinserted in straps I3 and I2. The completely assembled hook appears asis shown in Figure 6 associated with groups of pleats 3 and 4. Forexample in pleat group 3, hook I9 engages straps I1, I8, I9 and 20.

Before inserting the hook for each group of pleats 2, 3 and 4, it ispreferable to bend the tape, where the groups of pleats are to occur,into the form in which the pleats will nally appear when the Vhook visinserted. rlhus, referring to Figures 3 and 6, the tape is bent outwardtoward the surface of the outer draperyalong the slit 2I, then inwardlyalong the slit 22, outwardly along the slit 23, then inwardly along theslit 24, then outwardly along slit 25, inwardly'along slit 26 andoutwardly along slit 21. After inserting the hook crease-finished pleatsmay be formed by running a hand along the line of each of the slits in agroup.

If desired the hook and strap arrangement alone may be used to suspendthe drape Without the pleat formation. Thus, for example, in

Figure 6 the straps I2, I3, I4 and I5 may engage the hook in the mannerindicated but without any of the pleats formed along the slits 2I-2'land these slits may be dispensed with. Likewise, instead of using fourstraps to suspend the drapery two or more straps may be used with atleast one strap on either side of the shank 4I. In such an arrangementan even number of straps are desirable with the same number of straps oneach side of the shank of the hook. Any number of pleats may be used ina group of pleats and where such is the case, a corresponding number ofslits similar to slits 2I-21 and straps I2-I5 may be used. In addition.where a large number of pleats are used in a group of pleats, a singlerelatively large hook may be used for each group or one or more hookmembers of relatively small size may be used for such group.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent:

1. A suspension member for a drapery heading, said member having agenerally rectangular body-portion including substantially horizontaland parallel top and bottom edges, an integral hook extending from onehorizontal edge, and an integral ta-b at each end of said rectangularbody-portion.

2. A suspension member for a drapery heading, said member having agenerally rectangular body-portion including substantially horizontaland parallel top and bottom edges, an integral hook extending from onehorizontal edge, an integral tab at each end of said rectangularbodyportion, the end of each of said tabs extending generally toward thecenter of said body-portion.

3. A suspension member for a drapery heading, said member being formedof a single continuous piece of wire and having a generally rectangularbody-portion, the ends of said wire terminating in a hook extending awayfrom the center of one edge of said rectangular portion, said wireforming the ends of said rectangular portion being 6 vbent intogenerally U-shaped tabs extending in- Wardly toward the center of saidrectangular portion.

4. A suspension member for a drapery heading, said member having arectangular body-portion formed of wire and including generallyhorizontal and parallel top and bottom edges, one of said horizontaledges adapted to engage and support `drapery thereon, an integral hookextending from one of said horizontal edges, the ends of saidrectangular portion each having integral U-shaped tabs to secure saidsuspension member to said drapery.

5. A drapery support including a tape having a plurality of verticalslits therein and at least one drapery hook having a generallyrectangular body-portion with horizontal top and bottom edges and anintegral tape securing finger at each end, the rectangular-body-portionof said hook adapted to pass through the vertical slits vin said tapewhereby to support said tape on one of the horizontal edge-portions,said ngers securing said body-portion to said tape after passing througha slit therein.

6. A drapery support including a tape having a plurality of verticalslits therein and at least one drapery hook having a generallyrectangular body-portion with horizontal top and bottom edges and anintegral tape securing nger at each end, the rectangular body-portion ofsaid hook adapted to pass through a plurality of vertical slits in saidtape whereby to support said tape in pleated fashion on one of thehorizontal edge-portions, said fingers securing said bodyportion to saidtape after passing through the last of said slits.

JOSEPH BERNHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 0I record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,974 McGill May 26, 1891834,188 Carr Oct. 23, 1906 2,183,188 French Dec. 12, 1939 2,302,630 HessNov. 17, 1942 2,527,360 Hess Oct. 24, 1950

